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Mar 19, 2024 4 min

5-Year Fixed Mortgage Trap

from Unconventional Wisdom Hosted by Ed Rempel

The average Canadian wastes $22,000 after tax during their life for every $100,000 of their mortgage and takes 38 months longer to pay it off, according to a study by Moshe Milevsky. This is because of taking 5-year fixed mortgages instead of variable. They are marketed as being safe and a good protection against a sharp rise in interest rates. The reality, though, is that they are nearly always a huge waste of money, because the interest rate is nearly always higher and you lose your negotiating power for five long years. From 1975-2019, 1-year fixed mortgages saved money 100% of the time. 5-year fixed will probably save money for 5 years starting 2020-22, but it may be decades until next time. That is why we call it the "5-Year Fixed Mortgage Trap". Listen to my latest podcast episode to find out: Why people take 5-year mortgages. What you should do instead. Why being aware of your negotiating power is key.

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5-Year Fixed Mortgage Trap

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This episode was published on March 19, 2024.

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